I did some light terraforming on my last island, but for the most part I just worked with my natural landscape. I want to do a major overhaul this time. It's all a bit overwhelming though, I'm not sure where to start. I have a solid theme in mind but my plan doesn't stretch very far beyond that. How did you start with your island?
What's the best way to start terraforming?
- Thread starter insomniak
- Start date
Pick up a shovel...
Seriously though - decide which are the most important areas to you and get those in place first - it could be your entrance, the rivers, the cliffs...whatever matters most to you, really.
Everything else can fit in around those key areas.
Seriously though - decide which are the most important areas to you and get those in place first - it could be your entrance, the rivers, the cliffs...whatever matters most to you, really.
Everything else can fit in around those key areas.
I went for the top-down method. I terraformed most of what I knew I wanted done prior to any real decorating. Otherwise I'll be putting in just smaller spots of elevation for my house and restaurant I'm making soon.
It was daunting to even get started with it, but it wasnt so bad loool
It was daunting to even get started with it, but it wasnt so bad loool
-I miss filthy frank!-
I started with changing the rivers and back mountains. Then chose where I’d want my house and the way I set up my villagers houses worked perfect for me so I never had to move them. Then I did entrance and nooks shop. I guess I went all over the place, whatever my mind thought of in that moment kind of like when I draw. ^^
I started with changing the rivers and back mountains. Then chose where I’d want my house and the way I set up my villagers houses worked perfect for me so I never had to move them. Then I did entrance and nooks shop. I guess I went all over the place, whatever my mind thought of in that moment kind of like when I draw. ^^
Just focus on certain areas at a time! Trying to terraform everything at once can be a little confusing, so doing it section by section helps. I would plan out the general location for all your buildings first, and then start terraforming whatever idea you like most.
I do it in blocks. I found that when I tried to make it look nice as I go along, rounding the corners off and doing diagonal cliffs etc it would end up not being the way I wanted it and was hard to keep it looking neat, so I keep all the edges square and just make big squares or rectangles to get the main shape I want, then round the corners off at the end.
Sharksheep
Senior Member
I just did small areas. I tried terraforming all the cliffs and decided I didn't like it and it was a lot of work to undo. I also moved all the buildings onto the beach or as close to the beach in the areas I was going to work on last. You can move ables and nook on the beach if you have enough room.
Tear down all ramps and bridges and filled in a strip of the river for a land bridge.
The river is great natural divider of areas. Sell off a lot of the flowers or transplant them onto the beach so they won't spread. I put all of my fruit trees near RS for gifts.
It helps if you have a rough idea on how you want to divide your island. And if you want you island to look pretty or also be functional and playable.
Tear down all ramps and bridges and filled in a strip of the river for a land bridge.
The river is great natural divider of areas. Sell off a lot of the flowers or transplant them onto the beach so they won't spread. I put all of my fruit trees near RS for gifts.
It helps if you have a rough idea on how you want to divide your island. And if you want you island to look pretty or also be functional and playable.
Personally I'd start with where you need to have a certain path or bridge, something that can't be change like close to the river outlets and the town hall. If you have that, you can try to go from there. But I also agree that working it area to area is the easiest way.
visibleghost
ʕ •̀ o •́ ʔ
i like to have an idea in mind before going into things, so i usually think about what i want and look for inspiration. for me it's very overwhelming to work from a completely blank slate so i like basing things off of at least some planning or preferably my already existing layout but since you want to change everything completely i guess that's not good advice.
don't feel discouraged if it takes time or looks bad after just a few tries. if you keep working on it it might turn out great!
don't feel discouraged if it takes time or looks bad after just a few tries. if you keep working on it it might turn out great!
sleepydreepy
legendary egg
I think you should create an overall loose idea for your island and then start terraforming in small areas rather than trying to do your entire island at once. that way its not so overwhelming!
I destroyed and leveled everything, and then worked from there
my town is still a wip, but as far as terraforming goes, there's only maybe about <25% left that may get changed
my town is still a wip, but as far as terraforming goes, there's only maybe about <25% left that may get changed
i would start in areas that u currently have inspiration and motivation to change and then work with the natural landscape. many times i have murdered my poor, innocent rivers only to not be able to come up with anything better than the original. those saves r gone and dead now. pls dont be like me unless u know what u want with ur rivers!!
when ur almost done terraforming an area i suggest laying down a basic path to see how u should place flowers, trees, shrubs, and decorations. u dont need fancy pattern paths but its nice to get a general feel.
when ur almost done terraforming an area i suggest laying down a basic path to see how u should place flowers, trees, shrubs, and decorations. u dont need fancy pattern paths but its nice to get a general feel.
I flattened my entire island and worked in sections, I'd suggest doing whatever your main thing in your island is, whether that be the villager's area, a park?, a forest even? just so you can kinda gage everything else surrounding it and allocate space accordingly
It's a lot of trial and error so don't give up! Gotta find what works for you
It's a lot of trial and error so don't give up! Gotta find what works for you
bricoleling
Senior Member
I just did one feature at a time. I didn't even plan my entire island, tbh. I kind of knew I wanted my shops and museum in the back center and just worked on all of that first. Once you start, it's like a domino effect.
Skunk
∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿
I'd say work in sections, don't do what I did and completely flatten everything, because then it just feels super overwhelming and like you have to do it all at once lol.. starting at the airport entrance is a good point to then work outwards from!! Good luck :]
Mayor Todd
Highly Aware Floaty Thing
I'm not sure what you have in mind, but I would first draw the island out on paper, and design from there before I did any actual digging. I know there's at least one online resource for map making that you could use, but I don't know the name of it. Once you have a plan, move any villager houses and infrastructure that are in the way of progress to a quiet corner of your island temporarily. I would then dig the watercourses, because they can be surprisingly tricky to shape well. Once your waterways look good, shape the highlands. You might want to work in a sweep, terraforming across the island, so you can replace villagers and infrastructure in a gradual way, since the game will only allow you to move one house, one bridge/incline or city building per day. Once you've re-landscaped and transplanted your island structures, then place your public works/amenities. Lastly, plant trees, shrubs, etc. and call it a week.
P.S. What kind of shrubs and flowers do you think you'll go with? Just curious.
Also, If you can, I'd like to see screenshots of your new island when it's finished!
P.S. What kind of shrubs and flowers do you think you'll go with? Just curious.
Also, If you can, I'd like to see screenshots of your new island when it's finished!
Take your town map and mark general areas on it to give you an idea what you want where. Then pick whichever one looks easiest to start with (for me, it was the coastline between the airport and the south river mouth because I didn't have to figure out borders, then I worked my way up to Resident Services and the area around it)
Definitely agree with this. I find its best to start with a blank canvas so that you can build a fresh idea from there instead of tip toeing around obstacles.
I wasn't so pleased with my island entrance (since my resident services is placed in such an awkward place), so I tore everything down within that area and gradually built from there on. Now complete, I love it and glad that I went ahead and changed it.
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